Information Regarding Bunde & Upmeyer Co. of Milwaukee

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Bunde & Upmeyer announce that Louis W. Bunde and Frederick H. Osterwald have acquired William H. Upmeyer’s interest in the New York copartnership and will continue the business under the new firm name of Bunde & Osterwald at 542 Fifth Ave.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone - June 1935

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The Milwaukee jewelry trade contributed nearly $10,000 toward the Milwaukee County War Chest fund, again exceeding by a considerable percentage its quota. The campaign, conducted from Nov. 11 to 25, was part of the National United War Work drive. Milwaukee’s minimum allotment was $1,850,000. The jewelry group was again led by William H. Upmeyer, of the Bunde & Upmeyer Co., Plankinton Arcade, who is a fixture as head of various Liberty Loan and war fund campaigns because of his excellent work in the first campaign, more than a year ago.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 11th December 1918

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Bunde & Upmeyer Co. - Milwaukee - 1925

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Charles Hufschmidt, for several years traveling representative of Bunde & Upmeyer Co., Milwaukee, is receiving the condolences of his many friends upon the death of his father, Charles Hufschmidt, at Prairie du Chien, where for 30 years the deceased had conducted the famous old Dousman Hotel.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th February 1908

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Fred Osterwald of Bunde & Upmeyer, dealers in pearls, 542 Fifth Ave., is sojourning at Deerland Lodge, Long Lake, N. Y. He is expected to return to New York in early August.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 25th July 1929

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Bunde & Upmeyer Co. - Milwaukee - 1929

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Bunde & Upmeyer Co. - Milwaukee - 1906

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William Henry Upmeyer celebrated his 80th birthday and 65 years in the jewelry business recently at Milwaukee, Wis. He started as a jeweler’s apprentice in 1872 and in April of 1880 he and the late Louis Bunde started the partnership which now bears their name. Mr. Bunde died July 31, last year, Mr. Upmeyer’s father, Henry, came to Milwaukee in 1848 and opened a jewelry store in a frame building on old W. Water St. In the store, Adam Bloedel, founder of Bloedel’s Jewelry Inc., now located at 200 E. Wisconsin Ave., learned the jewelry business from Henry. When Henry died, William worked for Adam Bloedel, later forming the partnership with Mr. Bunde. Mr. Upmeyer boasts that he still has his own tonsils, his appendix and his own teeth. Outside of an occasional attack of the “flu,” he has not been ill.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone - July-1937

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PIONEER JEWELER OF MILWAUKEE PASSES ON

Milwaukee, Aug. I —(AP)—Louis W. Bunde, 78, a pioneer jeweler and partner in the firm of Bunde and Upmeyer for 56 years, died at his home yesterday after an illness of several months. On its 50th anniver­sary the company was the largest manufacturing wholesale and retail jewelry establishment in Wisconsin. The widow and a son survive.

Source: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune - 1st August 1936

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$10,000 FOR AN AMERICAN PEARL

The largest perfect peart ever found in the Mississippi river has been purchased by Bunde and Upmeyer of Milwaukee. -The gem Is nearly a perfect sphere, three-quarters of an Inch in diameter. It was recently found in the river north of Prairie du Chlen by a pearl fisher. It weighs 121 grains and the price was over £10,000.

Source: The Janesville Daily Gazette - 16th July 1902

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Bunde & Upmeyer Co. - Milwaukee - 1928

The progressive firm of Bunde and Upmeyer, Milwaukee, Wis., has just issued an exceptionally attractive little folder featuring Valentine gifts. The prices are all so modest as to be irresistible to the reading public, and the urge to buy from a retail jewelry establishment with genuine prestige behind it is made especially strong. The cover page on the folder is of paper representing a crocheted doily, pleasantly recalling the favorite type of Valentine used in the days of old.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th February 1928

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Pioneer Milwaukee Jewelers Announce Retirement From Retail Business in that City

MILWAUKEE, Wis., Dec. 20—The Bunde & Upmeyer Co., pioneer Milwaukee jewelers, 135 W. Wisconsin Ave., announces retirement from business after 52 years of successful jewelry merchandising here and is conducting a complete close-out sale of its stock. According to William H. Upmeyer, vice-president and treasurer of the firm, the decision to liquidate the stock came suddenly. Future plans of the principals are still indefinite and will not be available until early next year. The sale to close out the stock will be continued possibly three or four months.

Two years ago Louis Bunde, who is now 74, and Mr. Upmeyer, 75, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the firm. Many friends in the trade from all parts of the country came to Milwaukee for this occasion. Both are well known nationally. Mr. Upmeyer has for many years been active in State and National retail jewelers associations and the National Jewelers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Since 1901 the firm has maintained a New York office, dealing principally in Wisconsin fresh water pearls, but the decision to liquidate retail stocks in Milwaukee will not affect operations there, Mr. Upmeyer said.

Messrs. Bunde and Upmeyer opened their original shop in 1880, having previously worked as journeymen. In 1887 they opened their first store, which was enlarged five years later. In 1897 they moved into the Pabst building, taking space in the Mack Block six years later, and moving into the present location in the Plankinton building in 1917. The business was operated as a partnership until 1902 when it was incorporated under the present name. Mr. Bunde is president, Mr. Upmeyer is vice-president and treasurer, and Miss Caroline Bender, secretary. There are many veteran employes in the organization, some of them having been with the firm as long as 40 years.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - January 1933

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